The Better Business Bureau has prepared a useful summary of the public performance rules, [http://www.bbb.org/Alerts/article.asp?ID=451 ''Music in the Marketplace''], as they apply to places of business.

The Better Business Bureau has prepared a useful summary of the public performance rules, [http://www.bbb.org/Alerts/article.asp?ID=451 ''Music in the Marketplace''], as they apply to places of business.

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It is also important to remember that copyright covers both the intellectual property of the music itself—notation and lyrics--and the interpretation of that music as recorded in performance. Thus, a song that is in the public domain, such as ''Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,'' may not be in the public domain in a recorded version because the performers have rights to their interpretation.

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It is also important to remember that copyright covers both the intellectual property of the music itself—notation and lyrics--and the interpretation of that music as recorded in performance. Thus, a song that is in the public domain, such as ''Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,'' may not be in the public domain in a recorded version because the performers have rights to their interpretation. The Internet Public Library provides [http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/ent55.60.00/ references to music in the public domain].

As for whether there is another library already providing background music, I find no evidence that any library has tried it. The topic was discussed on [http://lists.webjunction.org/publib/ PubLib] with most respondents weighing in against adding music. Reasons offered included diversity in musical tastes and interference with the ability of some hearing-impaired visitors (or staff) to hear. General “white noise” was offered as an alternative.

As for whether there is another library already providing background music, I find no evidence that any library has tried it. The topic was discussed on [http://lists.webjunction.org/publib/ PubLib] with most respondents weighing in against adding music. Reasons offered included diversity in musical tastes and interference with the ability of some hearing-impaired visitors (or staff) to hear. General “white noise” was offered as an alternative.

Revision as of 14:20, 17 November 2006

Q. Are we able to use music CDs in our collection to broadcast background sound that would distract patrons from complaining about other patrons' noises? Or do we need to pay for satellite radio or commercially available piped in music to avoid copyright infringement? Are there other libraries that have tried background music?

The Better Business Bureau has prepared a useful summary of the public performance rules, Music in the Marketplace, as they apply to places of business.

It is also important to remember that copyright covers both the intellectual property of the music itself—notation and lyrics--and the interpretation of that music as recorded in performance. Thus, a song that is in the public domain, such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, may not be in the public domain in a recorded version because the performers have rights to their interpretation. The Internet Public Library provides references to music in the public domain.

As for whether there is another library already providing background music, I find no evidence that any library has tried it. The topic was discussed on PubLib with most respondents weighing in against adding music. Reasons offered included diversity in musical tastes and interference with the ability of some hearing-impaired visitors (or staff) to hear. General “white noise” was offered as an alternative.